Archangel Mermaid Tarot Dream

Had an interesting dream the other night, involving a family of another country and culture (true; I really know these people but not listing those details here) but, in this dream, involving music, dance and drumming, among other things, the following:

I'm in the room with this family, and lots of other people as well. Up on a little platform, is a long table with a dark haired (long dark hair) woman (around 40? maybe 50) who is reading from a deck. I assume it's a tarot deck, but can't get close enough to see. The backs of the cards are beautiful; greens and blues, mermaids.  

I can't hear the woman too well; can't tell if it's a traditional tarot deck or an oracle deck. I notice the woman doesn't have any clients; she just starts reading out loud to no one. Is she giving the whole room a reading? Reading to someone invisible? I still can't see the deck up close. I want to, because it's so beautiful, from the backs. I'm all about mermaids! But I'm confused as to the nature of the reading. Also, I realize I don't much like her. I don't like her style; she seems almost rude, and very loud. Not my approach.  

Yet after awhile, I realize what she's saying is more important than the way she's saying it. And, with a sudden awareness, I just know that she's more than human, if she's really human at all. She's an archangel! She's a mermaid archangel.  

When I understand this, I feel better. I'm awed, actually. And I realize her reading to the room is for anyone out here who cares to listen. It makes sense now. It's not important that I don't dig her style; it's not about that.
I want this deck!

Heliotrope Metaphysical Tarot and Oracle Shop

I move to a small touristy town up North. (Northern Oregon? California?) I buy a metaphysical bookstore/shop that has been in business for decades. In this delightful small community, the place has been a real fixture. Tourists love it, the staff has been dedicated and stable, the town considers it a good addition to the local economy and reputation. So everyone is very wary of me -- an outsider, a newcomer -- coming in and taking over. 

I assure everyone that I have no intention of changing anything. I want to keep the staff and let them know how valuable they are. I tell them I will learn from them, and I appreciate them. I only plan to add more, not take away. Become even more involved in local projects and issues, etc. Everyone seems more relaxed and trusting after this. 

During the dream I kept getting a sense of purple, violet, and a word that sounded like "heliotrope." The name of the shop? I think so.
The only real change I make in this shop is setting up a reading spot. At the top of the stairs (the store is in a charming converted two story house, sort of a small Victorian) is a small room with a large window and built-in bookshelves. I set up a table and two chairs, place all my tarot decks and books and pendulums and other divinatory tools on the shelf. A cozy space for doing readings. I start to read for a client, get up to get something to show the client, when I come back, there is a woman giving a reading at a table near mine. I am very upset. I tell her I am the owner, she does not have permission to read, it's distracting to myself and the clients, and a disservice to the clients. So I apologize to the clients, do their readings for free, and kick this woman out. She doesn't even work there, she just showed up.

I looked up the metaphysical aspects of heliotrope. I don't know how much of the following is accurate, but according to Witchipedia: (italics are mine)

Magical Attributes of Heliotrope

Heliotrope is associated with the Sun and the element Fire.
Heliotrope represents devotion, that to lovers as well as to a God or a cause.
To dream of heliotrope means unrequited love. You can place heliotrope flowers under your pillow to encourage prophetic dreams, especially related to finding lost things and people.
The essential oil can be used to anoint candles and other objects used in divination and in spells for wealth.
Heliotrope can can be burned for banishing. (Witchipedia.com)

And finally, while reading Brent Swancer's piece on the Djinn at Mysterious Universe, the reference to David Morehouse's book Psychic Warrior gave me a jolt. Last night, I had a dream I was back in this shop, and someone (unseen, and above) handed me a silver bracelet with the words Psychic Warrior engraved on the silver.

From Patheos: "Scrying Over You"

Scrying Over You: In the end, the magic’s not in the physical tool. It’s in you, and you can start out with some simple household or inexpensive items. So feel free to use an old, black coffee cup filled with water as a scrying pool. But once you start using it for that, it’s probably best not to also use it for your morning coffee. The first step in scrying is perceiving the spiritual aspects of the world. The second (and often more difficult) part is being able to understand what you see, and interpret what it means back here in the everyday. (Patheos)

Good advice and insights on scrying. Something I've tried, and continue to explore, and I agree with the author that it's not all about distinct and dramatic pictures -- like a movie -- but something more subtle. I also like the advice that anything can be used for scrying; a bowl of water, etc. It's fun as well as comforting, for myself, to use mirrors (especially if you made them yourself) but not necessary. Also not necessary to use a crystal ball, which, depending on the size, can be very expensive. It's not always about the tools, but it is always about you, your intentions, and your relationship with the spirits.

A Haiku, and a Tarot Dream

Funny dream last night, as well as one that came true, in a sense…

Dreamt I came into possession of a new tarot deck. A slight lucid dream moment; in the dream the deck was the Robin Hood deck, not the Robin Wood deck. I was aware of the funny change in both title and meaning of the decks.

 Later, I'm at work, and in a heated discussion about paganism and wicca, and found myself defending myself. Not defending myself but rather, really standing up for myself. 

Today at work, co-workers were commenting about paganism and how the meaning of pagan means not believing in god. I said "Pagans believe…" then I paused, and said "We believe…" and spoke about the different paths. "I'm a polytheistic pagan" I said, among other things. The co-workers are Christian, and they were very interested and very respectful. This was the first time I had come out as a pagan and a wiccan/witch at work. A good experience all around, but odd. I don't know what made me speak up in the first place, let alone make my practices known.

And now, for the haiku that I wrote this evening:

the tarot cards spread

summer evening and a full moon

awaiting the visitor 

Lucid Dreaming: Dog Again, Two Jacque Vallees

Lucid dreaming: awareness of the self or that you're dreaming within a dream. Here's one definition of lucid dreaming from The Lucidity Institute:

"Lucid dreaming means dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming. The term was coined by Frederik van Eeden  who used the word "lucid" in the sense of mental clarity. Lucidity usually begins in the midst of a dream when the dreamer realizes that the experience is not occurring in physical reality, but is a dream. Often this realization is triggered by the dreamer noticing some impossible or unlikely occurrence in the dream, such as flying or meeting the deceased. Sometimes people become lucid without noticing any particular clue in the dream; they just suddenly realize they are in a dream. A minority of lucid dreams (according to the research of LaBerge and colleagues, about 10 percent) are the result of returning to REM (dreaming) sleep directly from an awakening with unbroken reflective consciousness."

Dog: Spike Returns

Dog visited again the other night: repeating dreamscape of a dilapidated house, somehow ours. Lots more: I don't want to go into the house while Jim is away, the place is in a semi-rural area, lots of open lots with patchy grass, no trees, pretty ugly and bare. Front of the garage half gone, 2/3 seem to have been sliced in half so now it's a sort of lean to. I prefer to stay in there until Jim gets back.  Jim goes off for the entire day to return with a dog. Now our dog. 

Portrait eines Dobermanns, C. Reichert 1916 public domain

The thing about this dog is, the dog (Doberman) is from our waking life. Thirty years ago we lived in a place with this dog, who was great. Just a great, smart, sweet dog. In the dream, I say to Jim "This is very weird; Spike here would be over thirty years old, and dogs don't live that long." I was happy to see Spike again, but couldn't get past the strangeness of how it could be that he would still be alive, and healthy and young and happy at that.

(Dog, as dream guide and recurring image has been a recurring symbol in my dreams for awhile now. I've been working with Dog in my dreams; one, obviously the persistence of the image is important and two, I'm not a dog person. I love animals, and once I get to know a dog, I will often end up loving it. Oftentimes I wish I had a dog, but the timing and living situation is not right. At the same time, I've several extremely unpleasant and dangerous episodes involving dogs.)

UFO Researcher: The Two Jacque Vallees

A night or two after that, I had a dream about a golden UFO which I posted about on my UFO blog the Orange Orb. The UFO researcher Jacque Vallee appeared in the dream, but the man "playing" him was completely different in appearance. I comment to others in that dream that "This is very strange, in reality -- not here in this dream --  Vallee looks nothing like this. Vallee is tall, thin, has gray hair, this man is short, bald, not thin."

Dreaming is deeply intriguing. What lives in our subconscious, the levels and layers of dreaming (such as lucid dreaming), the recurring "dreamscapes" and symbols -- in my case, Dog -- and the frustrating and elusive nature of remembering dreams. It is fascinating to know that we had dreamt that night when we wake up in the morning, but just can't remember the dream. Or, we might have a few vague memories of that dream.  But those memories, that dream history, is still alive somewhere. Where? What part of the mind do these dream memories live? What part of the astral -- outside of us -- do they live?

What message are my guides sending via these lucid moments? What are the triggers that have caused these lucid moments to pop up in my dreams recently? No doubt meditation has been the cause; something I've just started doing again with intent, focus and consistency. (That last part … not easy for some of us.)

All this calls for a reading using the Angel Dreams oracle, which I will post here tomorrow.

Doreen Virtue and Melissa Virtue: Angel Dreams oracle

Gnome Visit?

I'm not that well acquainted with gnome lore. Just not an area I've explored or am into. But I had a weird little dream right before I woke up this morning that was a bit of a nightmare. (Or morning-mare.)

image:pixabay

Jim is outside working in the front yard. I'm inside, watching from the living room window. I see a short, plump man who looks to be in his fifties, maybe sixties, bright white longish and curly hair. He's wearing a dark blue baseball cap, bright red -- candy apple red -- t-shirt, and jeans. He's behind Jim, and picks up our cat by his leg and just starts swinging him and dragging him around.

I am horrified and furious, and yell to Jim "He has Mango! He has Mango!" and then the man looks up at me, gives a wild grin, and jumps onto our porch, thumbing his nose at me, and starts messing around with the things on our porch. I yell at him "Get away from here, get off our porch!" but he just laughs.

He's a nasty little bugger.

When I wake up, I'm breathing hard, I can't move even though I'm awake, and I'm feeling a little frightened. Later in the day, when thinking about how odd this dream was, I get "gnome." "But," I say to myself, "he wasn't wearing a red cap, his shirt was, but not his cap. And he was bigger than a gnome, even though he was short, about five feet at the most." That other voice just says to me "Sigh."

I came across this regarding gnomes and cats:

illustration: Brian Froud

Gnomes | Type of faeries: Males are the guardians of animal kind and show little preference for their animal friends, not withstanding their aversion to cats both wild and domesticated. (Monsters.com)

Well, there it is and as far as I care to go for now. The dream had a "pop in" feel, meaning, it came from "out there." I have had those kinds of dreams before, including this one that I call the "green warty man." (Come to think about it, that was a gnomish type of dream as well.)

By the way, the green warty man I saw was not as cute and innocent as the Brian Froud drawing. My green warty entity was ugly, and not nice.

Panther

Panther came to visit me last night in a dream. 

I look out my bedroom window; in the yard is a huge black panther. She is beautiful! And very large, as big as a car. She is not aggressive, just lying there, up against the white picket fence.  A collar is around her neck, and a rope -- more like a ribbon, which is also white -- attached to the collar. But the leash of ribbon isn't attached to anything. She can go wherever she wants. She seems content to just be where she is.

I go out there, she is aware of me. No danger and yet, I am cautious. Awed, and so grateful I am so close to this wonderful creature. I am happy she has decided to come to my yard! But I am worried, for her, and others. If she's someone's "pet" well, she shouldn't be! No one should own an animal like that! But if she's on the loose, is she a danger to humans? I don't know. She doesn't seem to be.  

Everywhere I go, there she is. Not following me, but just there. Quiet, calm. Yet as I peer into her her glossy fur, and see the even darker spots beneath the blue black of her coat, her fur, her skin, begins to ripple. There is immense power within.

I also worry about this incredible and beautiful creature. Is she okay put here by herself? Doesn't she need to run free, in open spaces? What about food? She can't survive out here, what is there to eat? She seems okay now but . . .
I try to tell people that she needs help, or at least, contact someone who can assess her situation, like animal control. But no one seems to notice her. When they do, they just shrug and move on. They don't appreciate the gift of her presence at all.

 I wake up feeling both comforted and happy at having this visit from Panther, but also a little sad.

Image: public domain, RWS deck

The Tarot image that came to me large and vivid  when reading this dream: The High Priestess. This came to me before I found the following -- I did a little searching and found this: "Black Panther's Power Includes astral travel, guardian energy, symbol of the feminine, death and rebirth, understanding of death, reclaiming ones power, ability to know the dark, aggressiveness and power without solar influence, reclaiming Power." (Black Panther, Power Animal, Symbol of Astral Travel, Feminine Energy, Death and Rebirth By Ina Woolcott)

The High Priestess has to do with the subconscious, dreams, intuition, power, and the sheer membrane between realms. The High Priestess knows how to journey through these realms. 

Interesting about the feminine, and reclaiming power. I've been having some health issues lately and yesterday had to take care of some of these issues; on pain pills, which I do not like to take at all and rarely do, and meditating on the karmic cycle of these issues.

Zuni Fetish, panther. Image: Regan Lee

Woolcott also writes: Panthers are generally loners, extremely comfortable with themselves and are often drawn to other solitary people. … People with this power animal can develop clairaudience, the ability to hear communications from other forms of life or dimensions. They must trust their thoughts and inner voice/visions as they are based in reality. This is an animal guide to assist you on your path, sometimes in the form of a real person such a mentor or teacher. The Black Panther is endowed with great magic and power, which will increasingly be experienced.

I am definitely a solitary person or "loner" but not lonely. 

The following gave me goosebumps; remember I said as I walked closer to Panther and looked at her fur, I saw her skin rippling:

Panthers possess acute sensitivity. The hairs that cover their lithe bodies, especially on the face, pick up subtle vibrations. This is symbolic for those with this guide. It is an indication of a need to pay attention to their feelings and honour the messages those feelings transmit. (Woolcott)

I've been doing work with ancestors and animal guides, and have had the zuni fetish of a panther shown here on my altar for awhile now.

Another image that strikes me: the juxtaposition of the stark black and white in the RWS card, and the black of the panther against the white fence in my dream.

Related links:
Wolf in the Dark
Ancestor Altar

Ancestor and ArchAngel Metatron Altar

My new bedroom altar arrangement. I've been working with Arch Angel Metatron and ancestors meditations. The right side is archangel Metatron, left is ancestors. They aren't clear in the photo but in front of the votive are skull bracelets. Will have to do until I can afford a skull. I love using a simple snifter of water for scrying, as well as the black mirror in the silver frame. Both different with very different effects, but both enjoyable to use. Food offering and water are also on the altar, behind the votive on the right. I've been doing this for a few days now; I'll post more on some results in the near future.

Grid Dreams

Two nights in a row I've had dreams about crystal grids.

The first dream -- which included an intense OBE state -- had me throwing the stones, like runes, to read them. My husband walked in and was curious so I read them for him, and explained the meaning of each stone or crystal.

The second dream, last night, seems a little comic. It's the second one with one of my many recurring dreamscapes -- this one is a room, the first room when you walk in the smallish house -- with wood paneling, no furniture or windows, just a table in the middle of the room. It's a sort of classroom. The house is up on a little bit of a hill, set back from the sidewalk, in a usual hum drum kind of residential neighborhood. The house has nothing special about it at all, really, kind of boring.

I'm inside, standing at the table (no chairs) with the characters from the TV show Big Bang Theory. (The only sit com I watch.) All the characters are here, but the main attention seems to be on Sheldon. They're here to learn from me how to create grids. Sheldon has already made his. He is being very "Sheldon" and anal-Obsessive Compulsive, and has placed the stones inside a wood box with high sides. He's more concerned with correct placing of stones because of shape and size; he hasn't gotten the concept of crystal and grid energy yet.

I tell him, gently, that it doesn't matter so much about the exact placement and size proximity of each stone, but that the sides of the box disrupt the flow of energy. I take the box apart, which agitates "Sheldon" but I tell him it's okay. Then he insists on using a wand to get the energy moving but he can't find the right wand. I tell him it's not necessary to use a wand, his hand or fingers will do.

Suddenly we hear a loud, booming male voice that's coming from behind one of the doors to the rooms. He's asking for Penny, he wants her to come into the room. He says he has something important to tell her. Everyone is impressed and "Oooooo, it's 'HIM', it must be important, Penny you have to go." I laugh and tell them this man is nobody, no one important at all, and he should come out and talk to us face to face, not hide in a room. Also, I say, he's just a fake horny would be guru who only wants to get into Penny's pants. I shrug and tell Penny it's up to her and she's an adult, but, "whatever."

I am surprised that they all, especially Sheldon, are curious about learning about crystals and grids and energy because, I tell them, it's something they'd usually think of as "woo." But they are genuinely interested, even though they don't get it.

Dog Totem/Dream Guide

     

      A disturbing dream in many ways last night, and I didn't realize it was Dog visiting once again until later in the day. 

     One of my dreamscapes, this one is an area that is very run down, large open lots where houses once stood, now many abandoned or dilapidated, lots are weedy. I know the ocean is just a few blocks away but can't see it. Some parts of this little town are still viable, barely, a downtown-ish kind of place.      Over the course of many days, I observe a homeless man (I assume he's homeless) roaming around the place. He is very dirty, filthy clothes, and appears to be in his forties. With him is the largest and ugliest dog I have ever seen that the man keeps on a leash.  This dog doesn't' even look like a dog. I don't know what it looks like -- a small bear, or a … who knows. It too is filthily, and gray. Not gray from the dirt, that's it's normal color. Shaggy gray ugly filthy dog.      Neither one of these beings are happy. I wonder if they're crazy, psychotic, dangerous, mentally ill, mean or what. I can't decide if it's safe to approach them. Every time the man sees me he just glares. And the dog -- hasn't growled or shown any aggressive signs, yet, but he isn't warm and fuzzy either. I want to stay away from both of them, and yet, they are both obviously in need. They are so dirty and hungry and clearly not being treated with any compassion by anyone. So I decide that these two creatures need food and care and so what if they turn out to be crazy or mean? I don't have to be their best friend, just see that they don't suffer.     I leave them some food, and some clothing. They're suspicious but then I realize that I'd be angry and surly and suspicious too if I had to live like this. They have every right to be full of anger and fear. It's not their fault.      They don't do anything at all to me, either way. They don't attack me or make me feel afraid, nor do they give me the time of day. They do accept the food and clothes and that's all that matters.     My work calls me, they're upset that I've been taking care of these two. The whole town gets in on the act. Some side with my place of employment, others with me. I think anyone who has the audacity and lack of compassion to criticize me for doing this can go to hell, and I tell them so. More uproar from citizens. More of me saying "Go screw yourselves." I continue to leave food and items for the man and the dog.

     Usually Dog appears either by itself, or with a woman. I think this is the first time Dog appeared with a man. 
     Sometimes Dog talks to me, or is downright friendly and sweet. Other times Dog is a guide, silent, leading the way, often on a leash, with its/my Guide, which is usually a woman. This time Dog was again silent, but waiting, not exhibiting any emotion, be it aggression or playfulness.

   

Amazon Review: Angel Dreams Oracle

My review of the Doreen and Melissa Virtue Angel Dreams oracle cards can be read at Amazon.com

Angel Dreams Oracle: The High Council and Amethyst

This is the image I used recently to promote a free three card reading using Doreen and Melissa Virtue's Angel Dreams Interpretations oracle. (Melissa Virtue is Doreen's daughter-in-law.) Notice the High Council card on the far left. This is one of my favorite cards in the deck. The first reading I did, this card came up in the reading. I've had a lot of synchronicities using this deck; for example, Amethyst came up several days in a row, even leaping out from the deck. No matter how well I shuffled and pulled the cards, Amethyst always came up for me. Clearly telling me something!

The High Council represents higher beings, guides, on the astral plane. If this card shows up, you are being asked to "take on a task..." that, despite the size of the task, will contribute to your inner growth as well as help humanity in some way. It is a card that reminds you of your potential, in the present, and in the future. Time is not linear; you might be asked to act now, or find to your surprise, that you have always had what you needed to act in the future.

It is a card of shift; a "spiritual shift" and reminds you to take a look at your current spiritual stage. {Virtue:p63}

Amethyst is a stone I use a lot in meditations and crystal work. Beautiful color and of course, it is excellent for protection and opening your intuitive and psychic channels. It is the stone of the third eye and the crown chakra. If this card appears in a reading, Amethyst is reminding you to work on your psychic self!

It is also a stone of protection from excess, drug or alcohol abuses or other kinds of self-abuse. It is a healing stone; the book that comes with this deck suggests that: "There is an animal in need of healing, nurturing and protection."
{Virtue: p18}